Don’t Relocate, Remodel.

Done right, a good home remodel can leave you feeling like you've moved into a brand-new (and better!) home, without requiring you to go through all of the trouble involved in actually moving. Trust me, remodeling is a lot easier than house shopping, packing and unpacking. I’m so glad that I decided to improve my home instead of shopping for a new one. When you remodel, you contractor does most of the work!
If you want to start a home renovation project but aren't sure where to begin, take a look through my blog. I’ll be sharing all the tips, hints, shortcuts, and money-saving lessons that I've learned along the way.

Does Your Business Need Its Entire Plumbing System Repiped?

Posted on:
7 December 2016

Repiping is often a major investment. It's understandable that a business wouldn't want to foot the bill for such a major expense. However, a full repiping job sometimes becomes necessary for a variety of reasons.

What is Repiping? When is It Necessary?

Just as the name implies, repiping involves replacing all the piping in a building. This can represent a sizable task, depending on the size of your commercial property. It's not something you would want to jump into. But, there are several reasons when repiping becomes a necessity.

If you have an older building – If your commercial property has been around for a while, then you may have older pipes that need replacing. If your building is over 50 years old, and you have never replaced or upgraded the piping, you may need to have all the pipework redone.

This is especially true if you have corroded galvanized steel pipes. This can also apply if you have pipes or fittings that consist of polybutylene, old copper, or Kite.

If you have low water pressure or reddish water – Low water pressure can represent another sign of aging pipes. If water doesn't come out of a fixture fast, it's possible the pressure has degraded due to heavy mineral buildup in your piping.

In cases such as these, you may have to replace all of your pipes. If that mineral buildup consists of a lot of rust, it can turn your water brown or red.

Multiple pipe issues throughout the building – If you're faced with numerous pipe issues, even if they're unrelated, it's sometimes better to replace them all. You can save a pipe at a time, but that will likely cost you more if there's a lot of piping involved. It's usually a far better investment to just upgrade the whole system.

Poor construction – You may just have a building that was constructed too quickly. It's possible the contractors cut corners, and you ended up with piping that will fail early.

Start with an Inspection

The best way to tell if repiping is necessary is to start with a professional commercial plumbing inspection. You can check a few things on your own without a professional inspection.

Check visible pipes in crawlspaces or in the basement

Keep track of places where you find leaks or water stains

Check your records to see what plumbing work, if any, occurred in the past

Pay attention to your water meter, especially during times of little water use

You still may not know if you have a building-wide issue, but it gives you a place to start. Using a commercial plumbing service, you can have the entirety of your system checked. They can also employ cameras to get a better look at your pipes. From there, you will see if a full repiping is the best option for your business.